Former Colts running back Zurlon Tipton arrested

Former Indianapolis Colts running back Zurlon Tipton Jr. was arrested early Friday for allegedly firing an assault rifle in Greenwood.

According to a news release from the Greenwood Police Department, Tipton was arrested around 1 a.m. after police responded to reports of gunshots in the 1400 block of Round Lake Road. Witnesses told police the suspects fled the scene in a Jeep, which was tracked down a couple of blocks from the scene.

Tipton, the driver of the Jeep, was questioned along with his brother, Cortez Tipton, who was a passenger. Police found a loaded 9mm handgun and a loaded Colt AR-15 assault rifle in the car.

Greenwood Police say Zurlon Tipton told them he received threatening text messages from his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, indicating the woman was going to be harmed. Tipton said he and his brother drove from a party in Brownsburg to his girlfriend's house in Greenwood to check on her.

When they arrived, Tipton told police, he believed the ex-boyfriend was at his girlfriend's house. According to the news release, Tipton fired a round from the AR-15 while standing in the driveway. The ex-boyfriend was not at the house when this happened, police say.

Tipton is charged with criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon. He was taken to the Johnson County Jail and was released on a $3,000 bond. Police said Tipton cooperated with police during the investigation and has a valid license to carry a handgun from the state of Michigan.

Tipton, who was with the Colts for most of the past two seasons, was recently released from the team.

Call Star reporter Jill Disis at (317) 444-6137. Follow her on Twitter: @jdisis.